CAFFE Survey

CAFFE - Central Algoma Food For Everyone

The following survey is intended to address the needs of consumers, farmers, and processors in the Algoma region with respect to agri-food and processing opportunities. This information will be gathered to decide on next steps to encourage agri-food and other product development opportunities for the Algoma District.

1. Where do you live in Algoma? (e.g. Bruce Mines, Tarbutt Additional, Laird)

_________________________________________________________

2. Where do you see yourself in the agri-food value chain?

□ Consumer

□ Family Farm/Producer

□ Processor

□ Broker

□ Wholesaler

□ Distributor

□ Retailer

□ Food Service

3. What is your business development stage? (select the stage that is most applicable to your business)

□ Idea (entrepreneur or business or idea; initial market and technology exploration)

□ Start-up (business established with customer(s); testing a market strategy)

5. Do you currently perform any sort of processing (on or off-farm, food business, etc.)? If so, what do you produce? Select all that apply.

□ Canned goods (preserves, pickles, jams)

□ Maple syrup and maple products (candy, butter, sugar)

□ Meat products (sausages, jerky, other cuts)

□ Baked goods

□ Fish products (smoked, fresh caught)

□ Other (Please specify): _________________________

□ Vegetable products (fresh cut, frozen)

□ Not applicable

□ Honey and honey products

6. Where or to whom are you currently selling your processed products?

□ Direct / Farm Gate □ Retailers / Brokers

□ Farmers’ Markets □ Wholesalers / Distributors

□ Other (please specify): __________ Not applicable

7. Do you have any interest in developing processed agri-food products for your farm or business idea?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Maybe

8. If you would like to pursue agri-food processing, what is preventing you from doing so? Select all that apply.

□ Space

□ Time

□ Market Research

□ Capital/funds

□ Available labour/skills

□ Knowledge

□ Not applicable

□ Other: ___________________

9. Have you ever used off-farm commercial kitchens or facilities?

a. Yes

b. No

c. No, but I would be interested in doing so.

d. I do not have a need to use commercial kitchens or facilities.

10. When considering and creating value-added products for your farm, have any been a success in the past?

a. Yes

b. No

c. My products are still in development

d. I am not interested in developing value-added products.

11. On a scale of 1 – 5 (5 being the most restrictive), please rate how each of these barriers prevent you from developing value-added products.

Not Restrictive

Somewhat Restrictive

Most Restrictive

Space

1

2

3

4

5

Time

1

2

3

4

5

Market Research

1

2

3

4

5

Capital/Funds

1

2

3

4

5

Available Labour/Skills

1

2

3

4

5

12. Would you be interested in using a shared space for anyone (small home gardeners to larger farmers and producers, for example) that could provide all the facilities for a commercial kitchen to create your products, for a nominal fee?

a. Yes

b. No

c. Maybe

11a. What are some factors that would encourage you to use a shared processing facility? (Skip if this does not apply to you.)

11b. What are some factors that would prevent you from using a shared processing facility? (Skip if this does not apply to you.)

11c. If you had access to a shared processing facility, where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?

□ Growth: My business is selling processed agri-food products to a larger market and increase the size of our operation

□ Stay same size: My business plans to stay the same size, produce the same products through current marketing channels but reduce our costs

□ Diversify: My business plans to create new product lines

□ Other: _______________________

13. On the scale below, please mark what you see as your commitment level to shopping within the Algoma District when local alternatives are available.

Always Never

14. On a scale of 1 – 5, how would you rate each of the following related to accessing products made in Algoma.

Easy

Difficult

Convenience

1

2

3

4

5

Knowledge

1

2

3

4

5

Price

1

2

3

4

5

Skills

1

2

3

4

5

Variety

1

2

3

4

5

15. Do you have any other thoughts about value-added processing in Algoma? Please share below: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you would like to be kept up to date with the Central Algoma Food for Everyone pilot, please fill out the spaces below of how best to contact you. Your information will not be shared or sold and the answers within this survey will be kept strictly confidential.